The next Formula 1 race may be months away still, but there’s plenty to see and do at the racetrack between now and then. First, you have to get there.
Being that the facility is still fairly new and a little out of the way, we’ve put together a quick guide for those that want to know all their transportation options for getting to the Circuit of the Americas racetrack. From regular Joe modes to first-class transport for world traveling high rollers, some of the options may surprise you.
Hired Transport
The Circuit of the Americas team planned for handling a lot of transportation services and charter buses during events held at the track. This is one of the easier and more convenient ways of getting there and back without having to deal with parking or reserving a spot on a helicopter (more on that to come).
Properly licensed limos that have a parking permit to enter COTA can drop clients off at designated points, which minimizes the walk to the track.
Taxis
You can also hire a taxi to get you to and from the track. Just make sure to check ahead to verify that the company has a permit to operate at the Circuit of the Americas. You’ll be dropped off at the designated taxi depot and then need to walk to the main entrance.
Public Transport
During Formula 1 there is a shuttle service, however for all other events this mode of transport isn’t an option. If you’re taking the shuttle you’ll still need to give yourself about an hour to get to the pick up location suggested for your area and get a seat on the bus.
Driving Yourself
You can always opt to go the old-fashioned DIY route and drive to the track in your own vehicle or motorcycle. All ticket holders can purchase a parking pass in advance, which is highly advised as there are no 3-day parking passes available on the day of the events and no guarantee that parking will be available. There are no less than 16 different parking lots and various entrances so it can be a bit confusing as far as where you need to go once you get there.
With thousands of fans in town you can expect heavy traffic on route, especially if it’s a Formula 1 race day. If you’re parking on-site it’s suggested to leave an hour and a half early to make sure you get there on time.
Get There by Bike
Austin is an extremely green city full of cycling enthusiasts, so it should come as no surprise that there’s actually a bike route to the track. The route goes from downtown Austin along Burleson Road through Richard Moya Park. Once bikers get there they will enjoy free valet parking and can also get a free shuttle ride back.
Arriving by Helicopter
Only at Formula 1 will you see race fans coming in by air rather than on four wheels. It was estimated that for the 2012 inaugural race upwards of 1,000 spectators arrived at the track by helicopter. In fact, during a trip to London to check out their Formula 1 security proceedings, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo noted that one thing he learned is “air traffic with helicopters is heavy.”
The cost for this aerial arrival is estimated at $500+ per person. The FAA helped plan out routes for last year’s events which included launch pads at six or so locations throughout the area such as Austin-Bergstrom airport, downtown, San Marcos Municipal Airport, Austin Executive Airport and Georgetown Municipal Airport.
Original Source: https://www.royalaustin.com/formula-1/transportation-options-for-getting-to-the-formula-one-race-track